A Fisho Question.

Yes use this method all the time when away up North West over winter.
I buy the small aluminium crimps and I use a pair of electrical (bootlace ) crimpers that I have from my working days. They do not squash the crimp but put an indent in one side, I have never had one fail on terminal tackle using flexy mono etc.
I believe Shimano also do a similar type of tool for their game fishing tackle.
I buy my crimps from BCF in packs of 20.
Whilst on this subject last year I tried some Gamagatsu Ganster hooks for ganging, they were absolutely crap! and I lost many fish due to the eyes opening when fighting a decent fish.
Would never buy a Gamagatsu hook again!
I even emailed the importer, and Gamagatsu, to express my findings thinking it may have been a faulty batch, but they didnt even answer me.

Brian

Oldbaz,
go on a few Barra fishing charters while up there, they know the rigs and the equipment required to catch the elusive Barra.

If you have access to a boat go out on the Darwin harbour and up the mangrove creeks, you can see the Barra under the boat, but they just won't bite... must have been the moon or the sun or the bait or the colour of the lure or maybe even the colour of the boat :-)

Mainey . . .

When lure fishing for barra, I generally use a 'Jack Erskine Twisted Leader'. I make them up on 60 (occasionallly 80 lb) leader using crimps, then tie them, using a Slim Beauty knot to my 30 or 50 lb braid on the baitcaster reel.

I pre-make them at home, then just have to tie on a new one if necessary when out fishing. For the terminal clip, I use Norman Speed Clips. Very strong and fairly easy to use. I have had other clips fail under the pressure of big barra, but never one of the Norman Speed Clips. I prefer using clips due to the ability to quickly change lures.

This link to an Ausfish forum thread shows how they are made:

Jack Erskine Twisted Leader

When bait fishing, I have always tied the hooks on. I have not tried crimping them, but since I have the gear, I might give it a go when next up North.......Was supposed to be on the way about now, but for various reasons, will now not be till April.

The Ausfish forum is very good for fishing discussion and info. Lots of very experienced barra fishermen on there, mostly guys (and girls) who fish for big ones in the Queensland stocked dams.

Norm C

Hi Oldbaz

I lived in Darwin for years and a keen barra fisherman. Never used wire trace for catching barra even ones over a 1metre. I never used dead bait either. Have on occasion used live bait but with not much success. Mostly always caught on lures or on flyfishing. On lures I run 20kg braid to bimini twist and then mono leader to a clip swivel onto a lure. The lure will depend on the time of year, colour of water, temperature of water, where you are fishing, and whether you are trolling or casting snags. Favourites are green or gold manns 10+. I feel strongly a barra would avoid wire trace. Besides they don't have any teeth to bight your off anyway.

When flyfishing for mackeral I will not use trace - just get a few more bite offs than usual but tie flys to compensate. At Lee point off Darwin I can usually nail 3 or 4 mackerals on fly while other boats with bait get nothing. If you check with Darwin Flyrodders this is the same story with all club members.

Bob

Flash gear is ok, I spent some time few years back with an aboriginal community at Blue Mud Bay in Arhem land they used 40lb line on a coke bottle and the hook was tied on with a quadruple granny knot, a metere back from the hook was a slip knot for a rock....depending on if you wanted weighting or not. LOL. They use any thing from frogs to cherabin for bait, seemed to work ok and didn't see many fish lost.

Hi Oldbaz,

I have done a lot of barra fishing, with many different guides and never seen one use crimps.

I join 50 lb braid straight to a 50 lb mono leader with an Albright knot. I don't use clips, but a Homer Rhode loop knot to let the lure work better. I have caught a few barra with this rig.

Using heavier mono leader cuts down the action of the lure and also the depth it will reach.

Cheers,

Willie.